Tag: Alysha Healy

THIS week’s semi-finals will undoubtedly see the best of the best duel one last time before the ultimate battle. Palmerston’s loss against Waratah was painful, but now they face the Southern Districts. The Pies have beaten the Crocs twice this season, but the Crocs are coming off a high after smashing the Saints. In the afternoon, Waratah will meet Darwin for another classic bout. The Warriors are heavy favourites for this match, and with the Buffs’ extended injury list, it is easy to see why.

Southern Districts somehow find themselves in St Marys’ shoes at the moment, having met Palmerston twice this season and lost on both occasions. For the Crocs to win they must use every opportunity and advantage they have to deny the Pies the ball. the Districts’ first advantage lies in their ruck stocks. Ebony Miller and Indy Sleeth will make sure their hit-outs give their midfielders first use of the ball. Meanwhile, Jessica Stassi and Natasha Medbury will help to control the clearances. If things get dire, Miller and Sleeth can simply punch the ball forward to gain ground.

Crocs forwards must put Billie Byers inside 50 or she will rebound the ball like it was never there. If Tayla Thorn can get off to the start she had last week, it may set the perfect foundation for the Districts to rise from. Rhiannon Busch is a proven goal kicker and has had a stellar couple of weeks, while Charles Deegan, though recently getting extra attention from defenders, is always dangerous around goals.

On the other side of the field, Shenaida Bush and Freda Puruntatameri are starting to click. This could prove very damaging to the Crocs as both are very quick and deadly accurate. Lateesha Jeffrey and the Districts backline will have a tough task keeping this pair quiet. If they can, it could prove the difference between victory and defeat.

Palmerston will walk into this match favorites, but Southern Districts may give the Pies a shock in this heavyweight bout of the Semi-Finals.

Darwin’s tactics last week may have beaten Pint, but it will not do against Waratah. The Warriors have 15 premiership players returning for this match and no amount of waiting this team out will help the Buffs. The Buffettes have to go for broke and, missing key players in the midfield and forward line, they may have to mix it up. If Dominique Carbone starts in the centre of the ground, it will free up Machaelia Roberts to push forward. Darwin’s forward line looks completely different when Roberts has the opportunity to cause defenders headaches. This leaves Carbone, Jemma Iacono, and Kylie Duggan to tackle Lisa Roberts, Madeline Gault and Alysha Healy in the midfield, which could go either way.

The Buffettes cannot allow Waratah to dominate the clearances. Amy Chittick is the league’s leading goal kicker and now has Lauren O’Shea for assistance. If the Warriors’ forwards get a taste of blood, they will swarm the Buffs’ backline and devastate the scoreboard.

Waratah also has a player similar to Roberts in Sherayn Puruntatameri. She pushed out from half-back last week to bag three majors. Puruntatameri is an X-factor player, which makes her a difficult match-up for Darwin. Celina Whan might be the Buffs’ best choice for Puruntatameri if she plays down back.

Waratah could easily turn this into an ugly game, but perhaps the rivalry will spur the Buffs to challenge the champions.

IT IS finally here, week one of the NTFL Women’s finals will take place today with three exciting games of footy. Despite earlier reports of a top-five finals series, it will be a top-six competition like the previous year, meaning St Marys will go at least one more round.

The first match will kick off with the heavyweights Palmerston taking on the reigning premiers Waratah. This game will serve as a qualifying match as both teams are looking to grab bragging rights early. Up next the Southern Districts will face off against St Marys in the first elimination final. The Crocs have dished out a hiding to the Saints twice this season, but anything can happen in finals. Lastly, the Darwin Buffettes will meet Pint in the final elimination game. The Buffs have been wounded by the loss of key players this year, so will have to dig deep to beat the Queen Ants who are at full fitness.

The Magpies had an average start to the season, but now they look dangerous. This side of youth mixed with experience is sure to give the Warriors a run for their money.

The midfield of both teams is nothing short of classy. Lisa Roberts, Alysha Healy, and Madeline Gault meet Natasha Medbury, Jessica Stassi, and Tabitha May, which should prove to be a classic battle. Waratah ruck, Joanna Kolodziej may dictate in terms of the hit-outs as she has done for most of the year. If the Warriors win the clearances, Amy Chittick and Lauren O’Shea could wreak havoc on the scoreboard. Fortunately for the Magpies, forward, Lisa Mecli has been missing in action. Billie Byers and Jessie Brock might be the perfect matchup against Waratah’s dynamic duo.

As for Palmerton’s forwards, there is no shortage of talent. Freda Puruntatemeri has danced around the best defenders all year. Her speed and skill are well complemented by teammate Shenaida Bush. This pair of speed demons will need a unique opposition to stop them. Puruntatemeri v Puruntatemeri could be Waratah’s answer while Sharona Bishop keeps an eye on Bush. The game could go either way, but one thing is certain, this is the game to watch this Saturday.

This will be an uphill battle for the Saints, with the Districts having crushed the Saints on two separate occasions this season. Charles Deegan and Taylor Thorn have used their size and speed to run St Marys’ defenders off their legs in the past. Lori Niven and Courtney Webb will need a well-organised backline to contain this problem. The ruck area of the game is where the Districts thrive, with the combination of Ebony Miller and Indy Sleeth better than most teams. Their tap work and ability to cover the ground is a class above the rest. Saints rovers, Natasha Dunn-Richards and Simone Garner may need to shark the tap-outs if their rucks aren’t up to the challenge.

Up forward the Saints have a gun and an issue. The gun is Alana Coombes, who looks to be their most damaging forward, while the problem is Districts’ Lateesha Jeffrey. Her leadership down back has created a solid defense for the Crocs and only the fastest forwards can break it down. Unlike some of Coombes’ partners in attacking 50, they lack the speed she has in spades. The Crocs could not be more favoured to win this match, and on paper they seem to have more talent across the board than St Marys. History looks likely to repeat itself this Saturday unless a miracle happens, so the Saints will be hoping for one.

The Buffs have no Brittany Ward, no Tikesea Docherty-Cole, no Jasmine Anderson and no Nicky Anderson, meaning Pint has a huge advantage considering they are going into this match with a full strength team. Machaelia Roberts and Kylie Duggan have been dominant in the centre of the ground, however players like Jemma Iacono and young gun Domonique Carbone need to lift if they want to get the job done. Pint’s Cassie Henderson, Samantha Barnett, and Katie Streeder play as a cohesive unit.

Darwin’s forward line power has been missing over the last few weeks as Celina Whan seems to be carrying the load in attacking 50. Leading goal scorer, Meredith Turner has kicked no majors in her last three games, so will need to produce goals against a strong Pint defense which is no easy task. Queen Ant defender, Erin Hetherington can make life difficult for the Buffs’ forward if the midfield entries aren’t clean. Meanwhile, the Queen Ants forwards have been performing well. Danielle Suddaby has become the new spearhead with the support of Emma Greaves who is in fine form. Add to that talent with Kristen Smidts and Ellie Ryan, the Queen Ants wear a decent crown inside their 50.

Pint has the fitness but Darwin has the experience. It is hard to pick a winner here, but it should be a tight contest.

THAT is a wrap for the home and away season as we look to finals this week, but first, we take a look at Round 18’s action. The Southern Districts cruised passed Nightcliff in another win plagued with scoring inaccuracy. Palmerston dominated against the Wanderers, with the Magpies looking a cut above the rest as they get ready for Waratah on Saturday. The Warriors are also ready for the Pies after brushing off Darwin with ease. The last match of the round saw the Queen Ants crawl over the Saints. Pint is more ready than ever take on the Buffettes this Saturday.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 1.3 I 1.4 I 4.4 I 5.8 (38)
NIGHTCLIFF 0.1 I 0.1 I 1.1 I 1.2 (8)

A dominant display by the Crocs should have seen more reward for their efforts, with scoring inaccuracy plaguing the Southern Districts all year. Charlie Deegan was the tip of the spear in the forward line early in the season, easing off and producing single majors over the last three matches. Tayla Thorn has been lively but seems to play the role of hit-up forward rather than a full forward, while Samantha Hoogeveen-Hill booted three goals last Saturday in her fifth match. Perhaps she can provide some much-needed firepower against St Marys. As for the Tigers, it’s all over with another wooden spoon to finish a disappointing year.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES 7.4 I 14.7 I 20.11 I 22.15 (147)
WANDERERS 2.0 I 3.0 I 4.1 I 6.1 (37)

Tabitha May, Janet Baird, Billie Byers, Natasha Medbury and Michaeline Brown dominated on field against the Eagles, with the Eagles struggling under the forceful forward play of the Magpies. This game was an impossible obstacle for the Wanderers as they ended the season with a big loss. In comparison, the Magpies will be looking forward to facing the reigning premiers this weekend. For once Waratah may be the underdog.

WARATAH 3.1 I 3.1 I 4.5 I 6.6 (42)
DARWIN BUFFETTES 0.1 I 2.1 I 2.1 I 4.4 (28)

Although not as entertaining as their last match, Waratah still has the goods of the Buffs. Veteran, Lisa Roberts was outstanding, kicking two goals and covering the ground with nothing but class. Sharona Bishop held up well in defense with Alicia Stanley, while Alysha Healy stood up in the midfield. The Buffs are a different tale as they seem to be missing players left right and centre as they head into finals. The reigning premiers will face a huge challenge against Palmerston but Darwin will also have their hands full with Pint.

A good start for Pint made the Saints chase their tails all day. Emma Greaves had her kicking boots on with three, while her partner in crime Danielle Suddaby kicked two. Cassie Henderson and Samantha Barnett had a standard day of brilliance as the midfield domination saw Pint control the clearances. Now Pint has every chance of knocking out the Buffs come Saturday. The Saints have a much more difficult task. St Marys may have made finals, but the Crocs have haunted them all year with devastating defeats.

THERE were a lot of twists and turns in round 16, with the latter end of the season proving very intriguing. The first match saw Darwin pull a 180 in effort and fall to Pint. The Queen Ants have now cemented their spot for finals by showing the Buffs that they are for real. The next match was no upset for Waratah, who stormed through Nightcliff with little effort. The Palmerston Magpies were no different, sweeping through Tracy Village with ease to continue their premiership campaign. St Marys was last to fall, the Southern Crocs were hurt from their last defeat and gave the Saints a death roll. The Crocs are looking forward to making a statement ahead of their first women’s finals appearance in history.

DARWIN BUFFETTES 0.0 I 0.1 I 1.2 I 1.2 (8)PINT 0.6 I 2.7 I 2.8 I 2.8 (20)

How the mighty have fallen, with Darwin falling to St Mary’s and now Pint over the past few weeks. However, credit to Pint who jumped on the Buffs early and took them by the horns. The Queen Ants may not have kicked a goal after the second quarter but their defensive- efforts proved more than enough for Darwin. Erin Hetherington and her fellow backliners deserve a pat on the back, but for the Buffettes, the pressure is seeming to mount as we reach the end of the season. Celina Whan was the only Buff that could hold her head high as many Darwin stars went missing. Midfielder Tekesa Docherty-Cole was well contained by the Queen Ants, while the promotion of Jordann Hickey to the Melbourne Demons has left a huge gap in the backline. Elsewhere the Queen Ants are crawling over the competition but will meet a savage outfit in the Southern Districts this week.

NIGHTCLIFF 0.0 I 0.0 I 1.2 I 1.2 (8)WARATAH 4.1 I 7.7 I 8.8 I 10. 12 (72)

In two weeks the nightmare for the Tigers will be over and they can start rebuilding for next season. Unfortunately, they had the misfortune of playing the reigning premiers late in the competition. Amy Chittick kicked a bag for the Waratahs in the absence of spearhead Lisa Miceli. Tall timbers Lauren O’Shea and Molly Cooper combined for four majors while Sharona Bishop, Breanne Martin, and Alysha Healy dominated the midfield. Waratah will again look to continue an onslaught performance when they meet Tracy Village this Sunday.

TRACY VILLAGE 2.0 I 5.0 I 8.3 I 11.4 (70)PALMERSTON MAGPIES 1.3 I 1.4 I 1.4 I 1.4 (10)

An honest start from the Razorbacks saw them become a bacon buffet for the Magpies. Freda Puruntatemeri lit up the forward line with Michaeline Brown, with the pair managing five majors between them. Billie Byers was again steady in defense thanks to an impressive midfield, with Tabitha May being the stand-out. The Magpies have indeed become the heavy favourites to take home the cup this season after becoming the premiership fancies of the competition. Palmerston’s final rounds will see them face St Marys and the Wanderers, projected wins that are likely to give the Pies a huge advantage as they cruise into finals.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 10.0 (81)ST MARYS 0.0 (15)

Goals

Southern Districts: Not suppliedSt Marys: Not Supplied

Best

Southern Districts: Not suppliedSt Marys: Not supplied

After a poor performance in their previous match, the Southern Districts had one thought on their mind: crush the Saints. The Crocs were awake this week and showed the competition that last week was just a hiccup. Rhiannon Busch was star of the show, kicking four goals for the day. Tayla Thorn was close behind, running St Marys into the ground. Lateesha Jeffrey owned the backline, teaming well with Indy Sleeth as she controlled the ruck. This game showed how dominant Southern Districts can be on the scoreboard. Pint is up next for the Crocs, so they will be hungry to beat a team in form.

THE holidays are over as the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) competition continues this weekend. Three matches will be held on Saturday with the Wanderers and Southern Districts up first. The Crocs have been death-rolling teams for the first half of the season and the Eagles may be next to add to their string of victories. At TIO Stadium, the Tigers will have their hands full when they take on the Buffettes. This match will be an opportunity for Darwin to boost their percentage as the Tigers still remain at the bottom of the ladder. In the afternoon, Waratah will face St Marys at TIO Oval. The Warriors have only lost one match for the year and with the Saints’ recent form, Waratah may be too much to handle. On Sunday, the last match will see Tracy Village play against Pint at the home of the Razorbacks. Both teams have been in poor form lately, but with only one match separating the two, this encounter could prove interesting.

WANDERERS V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS

Round 12 – Saturday January 5th, 10:00am

Gardens Oval

From the start of the season, the Southern Districts have been on fire. They have forsaken their past and brought in a winning culture that has breathed new light into the club. Charlie Deegan has been the tip of the spear up forward with Tayla Thorn complementing her quite well. Eagles defenders, Lauren Motlop and Tishara Davern will need to shut down this duo. However, it is the Crocs’ backline, led by Lateesha Jeffrey, that is the real threat to the Wanderers. The Eagles have struggled to kick goals this season and Jeffrey has become an expert at rebounding them. In order for the Wanderers to stand a chance, they must take the Crocs on at every turn. This will be no easy feat, as the Districts’ manic pressure has seen them lose only three games for the season. All three lost games have been against the top four teams.

NIGHTCLIFF V DARWINBUFFETTES

Round 12 – Saturday January 5th, 10:30am

TIO Stadium

If Chloe Scheer had arrived at Nightcliff a little earlier in the season, the Tigers would have been a much more formidable team. Unfortunately, she has arrived late and the Buffettes have been on a rampage. The Darwin midfield is packed full of A-grade talent, as Kylie Duggan, Jemma Iacono and Tikesa Docherty-Cole haven’t missed a beat all year. But they are not the only heroes with Domonique Carbone dominating the centre of the ground since her debut. The Tigers may struggle to match the difference in class, but with the help of forward, Emma-Lou Wolsey, they may be able to put up a fight.

ST MARYS V WARATAH

Round 12 – Saturday January 5th, 4:00pm

TIO Oval No.2

The reigning premiers’ onslaught style has them touted as heavy favourites for this game. The Warriors’ talent seem limitless as new players seem to emerge to complement the veterans. Under 18 representatives, Alysha Healy and Madeline Gault are among the youth that continues to cause real problems for their opposition. Healy’s run and carry out of the back line and Gault’s intensity in the midfield gives Warratah two extra aces in their deck. Saints young gun, Danielle Ponter could be the match-up for Gault, but St Marys midfielders, Nicole Garner and Natasha Dunn-Richards must dig into the clearances. The goal for the Saints is to cut off the supply to the Warriors forwards, which is easier said than done. Waratah’s forward line is a beast of talent. If Lisa Miceli, Lauren O’Shea, and Amy Chittick get off to a flyer, this game will be over fast.

TRACY VILLAGE V PINT

Round 12 – Sunday January 6th, 4:30pm

Tracy Village

This is possibly the most intriguing game of the round with the two teams seeming evenly matched from a ladder perspective. Another thing the Razorbacks and Queen Ants have in common is one superstar each that attempts to will their team home every week. Tracy Village has Kristy Irvine and the Queen Ants have Cassie Henderson. The pair has been screaming for support as they have tried diligently to inspire their teammates out of their losing streaks. The support finally came, as the Bushpigs found a new favourite up forward in Rachael Bull while the Queen Ants found their own with Danielle Saddaby. This game is easily a toss of the coin, but this could be Pint’s last gasp to return to top-four contention. The Queen Ants’ percentage might be low but statistically, but they hold a strong eight-point advantage over the Bushpigs.

THE Razorbacks experienced their worst defeat of the season last week when they were held scoreless for the entire game. This week, they meet ladder-leaders, Waratah in an attempt to redeem a poor performance. The Magpies are flying at the moment after downing Darwin last weekend, and will look to continue their good form when they face the Saints on Saturday. On Sunday, the Crocs will meet the Queen Ants. The Southern Districts have been on a roll these past weeks but Pint has proven to be a competitive outfit and may push the Crocs to their limit. The last match of the round will see the Wanderers play Nightcliff. Both teams are still searching for their first win of the season, and one team will finally get to sing their song after Sunday’s match, given the result isn’t a draw.

TRACY VILLAGE V WARATAH

Round 9 – Saturday December 1, 10:30am

TIO Stadium

The Warriors may have lost one game this season, but still remain the team to beat as they hover over the rest of the league. After a poor performance against the Crocs, the Warriors clicked into gear in their last game by smashing Pint. Waratah forward, Lisa Miceli has been damaging all season, but defenders, Alysha Healy and Lauren O’Shea have pushed forward from the back half in recent weeks to hit the scoreboard. The Warriors’ versatility has shown that they can kick majors from any position. Tracy Village started off the season strongly but has hit a slump in the past month. Kristy Irvine has had to carry her team through the midfield and up forward, standing as the club’s dual leading goal scorer. The Razorbacks cannot allow Irvine to carry this load alone if they are any chance to beat Waratah. Kristi Barnes once looked to be the spearhead up forward for Tracy Village, but is yet to string together some consistent performances. A few goals to Barnes against Waratah may give her a shot of confidence again.

PALMERSTON MAGPIES V ST MARYS

Round 9 – Saturday December 1, 3pm

TIO Oval No.2

The Saints escaped the Wanderers by the skin of their teeth last week, but on Saturday they will have to fend off a hungry Magpies army. Palmerston got the better of the Buffettes on the weekend with a gutsy performance by Under 18 representatives, Tabitha May, Freda Puruntatameri and Janet Baird. Baird has been causing all kinds of havoc since moving into forward line, and could have the same profound influence again this week. St Marys defenders, Nikita Long and Lori Neven will need to be at their best if they are to stop last year’s Rising Star. The talent of youth in the Magpies is deep, but the Saints have a young gun of their own in Danielle Ponter. Ponter was recently drafted by the Adelaide Crows and has just recently returned to the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Women’s competition. Her skill in the midfield, as well as up forward, could prove to be the difference against Palmerston.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V PINT

Round 9 – Sunday December 2, 10am

Norbuilt Oval

Inconsistency in front of goal has not yet come back to bite the Crocs, as they have torn apart their competition in recent games and now sit second on the ladder. Southern Districts’ Tayla Thorn and Charles Deegan may not be the most accurate forwards, but their efforts week after week have been nothing short of first class. The pair has kicked 16 goals between them, and could’ve had more if it weren’t for inaccuracy. Crocs stars, Lateesha Jeffrey,Tahlia Holtze and Ebony Miller have been admirable in the centre of the ground, but the Queen Ants trio of Erin Hetherington, Katie Streader, and Cassie Henderson may give them a challenge this week. Southern Districts defenders, Holly Engelhardt, Tyler Thornton and Northern Territory Under 18 representative Bella Clarke have shut down the best of opposition forwards, so Pint’s leading goal kickers, Kristen Smits and Madeline Keeble will have to put in some extra effort if they are to penetrate this Crocs defence.

WANDERERS VS NIGHTCLIFF

Round 9 – Sunday December 2, 11:30am

Gardens Oval No.2

Despite the fact that both teams currently sit at the bottom of the ladder, this game could prove to be a real nail-biter. Last week, the Eagles put up a good fight against St Marys but just let them slip away in the final quarter. A stronger defensive effort will be needed if they are to avoid sinking to last place. Northern Territory Under 18 representative, Arthurina Moreen has been lively up forward but has also been starved of opportunity all season. Wanderers’ midfielders, Calista Boyd and Keyona De Satge will need to dig deep this game and supply Moreen with some genuine opportunity in front of goal. On the other hand, the Tigers will need their own heroes to stand up and find a way to kick some goals. In previous matches, the efforts of defenders like Eliza Wear have held strong early in games, but the severe lack of scoring power has led to some crushing defeats by their opposition. Nightcliff must find a way to correct this weakness if they want to defeat the Eagles.